Meet the COTBDAA Board

Monica White
Co-Founder/President

Born on the East coast, Monica spent her childhood and early adulthood active in the outdoors of New England, graduating with a BS in Wildlife Management from the University of New Hampshire in 1992.  After graduation, she moved west to Colorado where she worked as a wildlife biologist and wildland firefighter throughout the majority of her career with the United States Forest Service.  In 2008, she was forced to leave her career after struggling with increasingly debilitating symptoms that doctors attributed to “stress”.  It took 7 ½ years, dozens of doctors, multiple surgeries, procedures, tests and evaluations at major medical centers before finally being correctly diagnosed with Lyme and several co-infections that infected her, as well as her children and husband. She struggled to navigate access to care and treatment for herself and her family without the needed resources, due to lack of awareness of these diseases in Colorado. Not wanting another Coloradan, family, or child to be affected like they had been, she co- founded COTBDAA with her husband Andy, and has been assisted by her children, to serve others in Colorado by increasing awareness and providing education to prevent disease, as well as providing access to the best available resources for those faced with these potentially debilitating or deadly diseases.  Monica additionally serves on the Public Tick Integrated Pest Management working group, served as a subcommittee member on the Federal Health & Human Services Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG) Disease Vectors, Surveillance and Prevention Subcommittee in 2018, and the HHS-TBDWG Subcommittee for Babesia  & other Tick-Borne Pathogens in 2020. She serves as a programmatic panel member for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program – Tick-Borne Disease Research Program. She is the Colorado Team Lead (and often WY, MT, NV and/or UT) for the Annual Center for Lyme Action Virtual Advocacy Day, advocating for increased federal funding for Lyme, Alpha-gal, and other tick-borne diseases. She participates in the Mothers Against Lyme support group hosted by Project Lyme and is dedicated to the fight against pediatric and congenitally transmitted Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in children.

Andy White
Co-Founder/Treasurer

Born and raised in Colorado, Andy spent his childhood exploring the outdoors. He graduated with a dual degree in Forestry and Fire (BS) from Colorado State University. He has worked his entire career with the United States Forest Service as a wildland firefighter, first in the capacity of engine crew member, then captain, now in the career position of Fuels Specialist. Firefighting assignments continue to take him to incidents nationwide where risk of exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases vary. He has supported a family infected with Lyme and multiple co-infections while at the same time being treated for the diseases himself.  He co-founded COTBDAA with his wife, Monica, to help others afflicted with these diseases and to prevent others from acquiring the diseases.

Maggie Schaefer, RN, BSN
Secretary

Maggie brings decades of personal, clinical, and advocacy experience to her role as a board member. A former labor and delivery nurse, Maggie’s life and career were profoundly shaped after years of misdiagnosis led to her own diagnosis of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, as well as those affecting her three children, including gestational Lyme.

She co-founded the Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force to advance education, awareness, and advocacy, working alongside physicians, community leaders, and national organizations. Maggie served for a decade with the Lyme Disease Association as Chair of the LymeAid 4 Kids (LA4K) grant, supporting treatment and care for children with tick-borne diseases. She continues this work through the Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association (COTBDAA), ensuring families have access to critical resources and support.

Maggie currently works in adoption and foster care and remains deeply committed to advocacy, education, and improving outcomes for children and families affected by tick-borne illness.

Dedicated volunteers!

Dr. Sharon P Austin

Dr. Sharon P Austin is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Fort Collins, CO with over 25 years of clinical experience.  She specializes in couple therapy, equine assisted therapy, complex trauma and chronic medical conditions. She is a Mom of a 21-yr old son and an 18-yr old daughter, both in college.  She is an avid horse person, and, along with her husband, has an 18 acre “hobby” farm with horses, sheep, chickens and dogs.  Sharon’s knowledge of Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs) comes from experiences with clients, friends and family members dealing with likely chronic Lyme and co-infections. She also lived half of her life in New England before moving to CO in 1990.  She is passionate about raising awareness of TBDs and providing support for those struggling with them.

Reece & Ison White

Both Reece and Ison are Colorado natives. Both were infected with Lyme disease and multiple co-infections through congenital transmission. Their childhood and adolescence has been shaped by the impacts of these diseases on their health, emotional well-being, education, social life, and activities. They have both persevered through very difficult times while still struggling with illnesses associated with Lyme and multiple tick-borne infections. Reece recently graduated from nursing school and is getting ready to head into the workforce. Ison is passionate about snowboarding, mountain biking, and video games, and is exploring his options in life. Both of these young adults have supported COTBDAA through volunteering at events since the inception of COTBDAA in 2016.

Debora Scatuccio

Debora is a longtime advocate, working on behalf of the educational and medical rights of children dealing with Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Due to her own exposure, and that of her children to Lyme & multiple co-infections, Debora joined the community of supporters to educate the country about the insidious effects of tick-borne illness.

For over 25 years Debora was a dedicated volunteer at the Lyme Disease Association, Inc. As a Graphic Artist, Illustrator, and researcher, she has donated her time and talents to the LDA, with a special focus on the LymeAid 4 Kids Fund (LA4K). Debora is a former LDA Board Officer. In addition, she has a diverse background in the Dental field, working as a Dental Assistant.

With the inclusion of the National LymeAid 4 Kids fund under the administration of COTBDAA, Debora will continue to be part of the LA4K national team. She has volunteered alongside Monica White in the nationwide Lyme advocacy arena for over 15 years and is thrilled to continue her role in LA4K supporting children in need across the USA.